BLG nominees announced

The list of nominees for the BLG Awards, given annually to the top male and female CIS athletes, was announced earlier today [The Canadian Press via The Globe and Mail]. They're detailed below. We'll have more analysis on who's likely to win closer to the date of the awards ceremony (April 27).

Men:

Canada West nominee:Joel Schmuland, University of Alberta Golden BearsSport: VolleyballPosition: Right-side hitterKey accomplishments:CIS Player of the Year, three national titles in five years

QSSF nominee: Etienne Legare, Laval Rouge et OrSport: FootballPosition: Defensive linemanKey accomplishments: CIS lineman of the year, ranked fourth among Canadian college players by CFL Scouting Bureau, helped Laval to second Vanier Cup in three years

AUS nominee: Marc Rancourt, Saint Mary's HuskiesSport: HockeyPosition: Left wingKey accomplishments: Men's hockey player of the year, led the country in points and assists

Women:Canada West nominee:Annamay Pierse, University of British Columbia ThunderbirdsSport: SwimmingKey accomplishments: 2008 Olympian, short-course world-record holder in 200m breaststroke, swept breaststroke events at nationals this year

OUA nominee: Lindsay Carson, Guelph GryphonsSport: Cross-country and trackKey accomplishments:Led Guelph [Greg Layson, The Guelph Mercury] to fourth straight national cross-country championship and second place overall at track nationals, won OUA silver and CIS bronze in cross-country, earned OUA and CIS gold in 1,500m and 3,000m, recorded second-fastest 3,000m time in CIS history

QSSF nominee: Charline Labonte, McGill MartletsSport: HockeyPosition GoalieKey accomplishments: First-team All-Canadian, member of national team since 2005, earned gold with Canadian women's hockey team at 2006 Olympics, led McGill to 36-0 record and second straight national championship this year, currently playing for Canada at world championships

AUS nominee: Ghislaine Landry, St. Francis Xavier X-WomenSport: RugbyPosition FullbackKey accomplishments: Two-time CIS player of the year, rookie of the year in 2006, silver medalist [Monty Mosher, Halifax Chronicle-Herald] with Team Canada at 2008 world sevens championship, led X-Women to silver medals at nationals